May 22, 2007 Volume # 8 Issue # 11

A bi-weekly source for Association news and regulatory and legislative developments affecting the chemical distribution industry.

NACD News - Table of Contents Legislative and Regulatory Updates 2007 NACD Washington Fly-In a Huge Success Congress Continues Attempts to Add Chemical Security Language to Appropriations Bills PHMSA to Hold Public Workshop on Loading and Unloading Responsible Distribution Process RDP Orientation & Workshop -- September 17-18, 2007 Reduce Your Supplier Audits Networking and Education NACD OPSEM2007, Nashville, TN, September 19-21 2007 Annual Meeting 2007 Regional Meetings NACD Welcomes Its Newest Chemical Handler Affiliate -- Weber Distribution of Santa Fe Springs, CA Chemical Education Foundation Vanguard Award Presented in Washington, DC CEF Invites You to the 2007 National You Be The Chemist Challenge Thank You!     Calendar of Events   Education and Training   Annual Meeting   OPSEM  2007 NACD Washington Fly-In a Huge Success   Last week, 54 individuals from NACD member companies participated in a very successful 2007 NACD Washington Fly-In. The event kicked off on Tuesday, May 15 with a Fly-In 101 session that included a briefing on the issues and tips on how Capitol Hill works from NACD Fly-In veterans. Following the briefing, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection Robert Stephan spoke to the group about the new Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) and other DHS initiatives to secure the nation’s critical infrastructure in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster. Wednesday morning began early with a breakfast with special guest speaker Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY), who provided an insider’s view of activities underway in the Senate. Participants then departed for Capitol Hill for a full day, which included 165 meetings with Senators, Representatives, and congressional staff members from 35 states. During these meetings, participants urged Congress to allow CFATS to be fully implemented and tested before enacting new chemical security legislation, to refrain from enacting hazardous materials transportation security legislation that would be duplicative of current requirements or impose mandatory re-routing of certain HazMat shipments, and to oppose the “Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow for a card-check procedure in lieu of a secret ballot when deciding whether to form a union in a workplace. The final event of the Fly-In was a meeting with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Deputy Secretary/Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Administrator Thomas Barrett and key agency staff. Thanks to all of you who participated in the 2007 Washington Fly-In and for making this important event a big success.       Back to Top    Congress Continues Attempts to Add Chemical Security Language to Appropriations Bills    The House and Senate have each passed emergency supplemental appropriations legislation to fund the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bills include language to explicitly allow states to impose chemical security standards on facilities that are stronger than the federal requirements. The President has threatened to veto the legislation, primarily because of restrictions on the money available for the troops, but has also expressed opposition to the chemical security language. In addition, the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee has just approved its version of the fiscal year 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which contains similar chemical security language. The subcommittee approved the bill unanimously by voice vote, and no amendments were offered. Those who have concerns with the legislation are expected to offer amendments during full Appropriations Committee consideration of the bill in June. NACD will strongly urge the committee to strike the chemical security language and to allow the CFATS to be fully implemented and tested before changing the rules.       Back to Top    PHMSA to Hold Public Workshop on Loading and Unloading   The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will hold a public workshop on Thursday, June 14 in Washington, DC on bulk loading and unloading practices. The workshop will examine industry data, identify industry best practices, and discuss the role of recommended practices for loading and unloading. PHMSA is pursuing this issue because a recent agency review of incidents over the past decade demonstrated that about one quarter to one half of overall hazardous materials transportation incidents could be attributable to loading and unloading operations, particularly those involving bulk packages. According to the workshop notice, the session will be an early step in the process of examining potential industry actions to reduce risk in HazMat transportation. The workshop will take place from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington. For more information, or to register, go to http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/MtgHome.mtg?mtg=45. Interested parties are also encouraged to submit written comments.       Back to Top   RDP Orientation & Workshop -- September 17-18, 2007   If you are attending this meeting in Nashville, please make your room reservations now. Go to http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/bnash?groupCode=chechea&app=resvlink or go to the OPSEM Web site at www.nacd.com/events for the hotel's information. FYI -- Monday, September 17 is sold out at the Renaissance! Please contact Roselle Foley at rfoley@nacd.com or call 703/527-6223 x112 if you need a room for Monday, September 17.       Back to Top    Reduce Your Supplier Audits   Interested in reducing your supplier audits? Then, encourage your suppliers (this includes other NACD distributor members who act as suppliers to you, as well) to participate in the supplier-nominated RDP Verification process. Visit /dist_process/srdpv.aspx to learn more and to view a list of current Supplier Funders.       Back to Top   NACD OPSEM2007, Nashville, TN, September 19-21   Attention Affiliates! Priority booth locations reserved just for you are still available. For information on exhibiting and to see a list of confirmed exhibitors, go to www.nacd.com/events/opsem/exhibit.aspx. Thank You, Sponsors! Sponsors are listed at www.nacd.com/events/opsem/sponsor.aspx. Hotel rooms are going very quickly. Make your reservations today directly at http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/bnash?groupCode=chechea&app=resvlink. Please e-mail Roselle Foley at rfoley@nacd.com is you need help booking your rooms. For the most current program schedule and sessions descriptions, visit www.nacd.com/events/opsem/events.aspx.         Back to Top    2007 Annual Meeting   El Conquistador Golf Resort & Casino, Las Croabas, Puerto Rico November 26-20, 2007 The NACD room block is filling up. Reserve your room today at /events/annual_meeting. New on the Web site -- optional tours and activities available during the week. For details and to view the program schedule for the meeting, visit www.nacd.com/events/annual_meeting/events.aspx.       Back to Top    2007 Regional Meetings   Central Region Meeting - June 19-20, 2007 The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, MO NACD Group Room Rate: $199.00 nightly + taxes Reservations: 800/241-3333 by the deadline of Friday, May 25 Southern Region Meeting - June 24-26, 2007 Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL Call 1/888-261-6165 for NACD Group rates. Northeast Region Meeting - October 11-12, 2007 The Millenium Boston Hotel, Boston, MA NACD Group Rate: $349 Reservations: 617/523-3600 For more information on all upcoming NACD Regional meetings, visit /about/regions/.           Back to Top    NACD would like to welcome its newest Chemical Handler Affiliate -- Weber Distribution of Santa Fe Springs, CA.       Back to Top    Vanguard Award Presented in Washington, DC   Richard A. (Dick) Peacock, President of PVS-Nolwood Chemicals, Inc., of Detroit, MI, was presented with the Vanguard Award in a ceremony held in Washington, DC on May 14.In attendance were members of the chemical distribution and manufacturing communities, as well as affiliated organizations. Dick was presented with the award by Michigan Congressman Thaddeus McCotter. Kristine Cohn, Secretary's Regional Representative, Region V, for the U.S. Department of Education spoke, as well. The importance of developing community partnerships to promote chemistry education and to encourage the educational development of students was a main focus of the presentation. Dick was honored for his leadership and active participation and promotion of chemistry education in the Detroit area. His company's outreach initiatives include aiding in the development of achievement programs in local schools, adopting an inner city elementary school, and the broad implementation of CEF's You Be The Chemist kit and Challenge. For more information on this year's award ceremony and to view photos, please visit the CEF Web site at www.chemed.org.       Back to Top    CEF Invites You to the 2007 National You Be The Chemist Challenge   CEF invites industry members to attend the 2007 National You Be The Chemist (YBTC) Challenge competition, to be held June 15 in Philadelphia, PA, at the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Thirteen students from across the country will meet in Philadelphia to compete for the title of National Champion. In addition to the academics of the competition, students will be given the chance to explore the city, tour local museums, and receive prizes and Challenge items for participating. For more information, please visit the CEF Web site at www.chemed.org or contact the CEF staff at 703/527-6223.       Back to Top